Apparatus for and method of making collapsible containers



G. J. SHEARER Jul 22, 1941.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CO LLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 18, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE J. SHEARER Own July 22, 941. G. J. SHEARER 2,249,859

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Fi'led Sept. 18, 1940 "5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIQIQ INVENTOR GEORGE J. SHEARER ATTOR Y July 22, 1941. G. J. SHEARER 2,249,359 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 18, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR GEORGE J. SHEARE'R Patented July 22, 1941 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING COLLAPSIBLE CDNTAINERS George J. Shearer, Erianger, Ky.,

or to assign Shearer Paper Box 00. Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, at

- corporation of Ohio Application September 18, 1940, Serial No. 357,267 22 Claims. (cl. 93-49) This invention relates to an automatic machine and'method for making and folding collapsible containers of the general character shown in my copending application Serial No. 357,266, filed September 1 8, 11940, from prefabricate blanks of sheet material.

An object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic container fabricating machine embodying means for the rapid production of completed and fully collapsed containers from prefabricated blanks of sheet material fed thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated, which is structurally and mechanically simple, reliable in operation and free from the need of attention after installation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character stated embodying means for accurately aligning each prefabricated blank of sheet material relative to the container forming elements of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine embodying means for successivelyembodying the present invention, with parts broken away for clarity of detail.

, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of that portion of the machine of Fig. 1 bounded by line 2-2', showing in detail, the relationship of certain elements thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the male-die of the container forming machine 20, showing a 'detail of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an extended blank, which comprises a detail of the present invention, and from which a collapsible container is fabricated by the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the male die element of Fig. -3, showing in section the blank of Fig.

operatively associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the bottom of a container passing through the container collapsing portion of the machine, just prior to engagement with element".

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 5, showing in detail the relationship between the bottom, end and side walls. v

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 9-8 of Fig. 1 showing the bottom of the container of Fig. 6 after having been engaged by elements 84. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-40 of Fig. 1, showing the bottom of the container Q of Fig. 8 at its end walls are engaged by elements 90. v I

Fig. .11 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an'end view taken on line i2--i2 of Fig. 1, showing the bottom of a completed and collapsed container as it emerges from the pressurerollers and '96.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental perspective view of the interior of the left half of the container of Fig. 11, showing in detail the relationship of the bottom, end and side walls of a partially collapsed container. v

Fig. 14 is a fragmental perspective view of the interior of the container of Fig. 13 in a fully extended condition, showing the relationship of the bottom, end andside walls.

For a complete and proper understandingoi the machine of the present invention, it is necessary to appreciate the character and operating characteristics of the container which it makes and then collapses. The container is delivered to the ultimate user in the fully' collapsed con-, dition of Fig. 12 from which it may be quickly and readily extended to an open, article-receptive condition, at the precise moment it is to be used. In order to thus extend a collapsed container, it is only necessary to stand it on its open or upper end I1, and then press downwardly on the upturned bottom with the index finger of one hand. .Such procedure results in the side and end walls of the container being expanded outwardly from their collapsed condition, to provide a rectangular housing open at one end and closed at its opposite end by the bottom 32 as illustrated in Fig. 14. As the bottom is depressed it is moved past a dead center point with a decided snap action for securely, though releasably; locking the container in .a fully extended condition.

The' container is adapted to be fabricated from the blank of Fig. 4, which in turn may be suitably fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, such as cardboard, or the like.

A completed container comprises, broadly speaking, a substantially rectangular shaped housing defined by a pair of opposed side walls 29 and 38, a pair of opposed end walls 3! and a bottom 32. Suitable fold or score lines 33 and 34, .extending transversely of the container, set off the bottom 32 from theside walls 29 and 28,

respectively. Bottom 32 is provided with a' transverse median fold line 35 about which it may be folded in opposite directions as it is snapped from one side of dead centerto another as the container is extended and/or collapsed. A pair of triangular shaped actuator panels 58 are provided, one each, at opposite ends of bottom 32. Each actuator panel is defined by a pair of score lines 45, which converge from opposed ends 46 and .4! of the bottom end-edge 48 toward median score 35 upon which they intersect to form an apex 44. The bottom end edges 48 comprise the base of the actuator panels 58.

Each end wall 3| comprises an inner-endwall-element 36 and an outer-end-wall-element 31, which are secured together by means of adhesive, stitching, stapling, or the like. Identical, but opposed outer-end-wall-elements 31 are set oil from opposite sides of side wall 38 .by means of fold or score lines 38. A longitudinal median fold line 39 subdivides-each outer-end-wall-element 3'! into an outer or attachment panel 48, and an intermediate panel 4|.

Identical, but opposed inner-end-wall' elements 36 are set off from opposite sides of sidewall 29 by means of fold or score lines 42. Each element 36 comprises an outer or wing panel 43 and an attachment panel 44 disposed adjacent line 42.

In order to provide a dead center between the bottom edges 33 and 34 of the opposed side walls 29 and 38 of an extended container, the overall width of the end walls 3| is of a lesser dimension than the overall width of bottom 32.

It should be noted, Figs. 13 and 14, that the base 48 of an actuator panel 58 is at all times disposed on one side of dead center, interiorly of the housing and in contact with panels 4! and 44 of the inner and outer end-wall-elements 36 and 3l. This is true whether the container be collapsed or fully extended.

Those portions of the bottom which are disposed intermediate fold lines 33 and 34, and betweencorresponding actuator-panel-definingfold-lines 45, are adapted 'to be disposed outwardly of the housing and to the right of dead center when the container is in a partially or completely collapsed condition, Fig. 13. It will be observed that those portions of the actuator panels 58 intermediate base 46 and side fold lines 45 extend across the plane of dead center when the container is partially or wholly collapsed.

As the bottom of a collapsed container is pressed inwardly, that is toward its open end ll, fold lines 33 and 34 are forced apart, and simultaneously therewith the fold lines 38 and 42 of the end walls are moved apart. thereby straightening said end walls and extending the housing. The actuator panel bases 48 exert an outward force on the inner face of the end walls as their intermediate portions are shifted towards dead center incident to movement of bottom 32. As the bottom is snapped past dead center, all parts thereof are coplanar and in alignment with the base portion 48 of the actuator panels 58, whereby the end walls are wedged apart as illustrated in Fig. 14.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the mechanism of the present invention is seen to comprise, broadly speaking, a container forming device denoted generally by the numeral 28, and a container collapsing device, denoted generally by the numeral 2|.

The container forming device 28 may comprise any suitable mechanism, capable of fabricating the blank of Fig. 4 into the extended container of Fig. 7. This device may comprise, by way of example, a vertically reciprocable male die element or plunger 68 which is adapted to engage a prefabricated blank 22 on its downward or container-forming stroke. The blank thus engaged. is moved relative to suitable wall-folding-elements 6| and 62 and then into an open bottomed female die element. In the device illustrated, the female die elementcomprises a pair of opposed side wall engaging elements 64 and a pair of opposed end wall engagingelements 65. The die elements comprising each pair are'adapted to be laterally shifted toward one another to engage a corresponding face of the male die element as it reaches the bottom of its downward stroke.

The means for actuating the various dies may comprise mechanical means, which may be in the form of plungers such as I68, I64 and I65, whose outer ends are adapted to engage the outer periphery of cams 268, 264 and 265, respectively. Each plunger is moved against the force of a suitable spring 66 interposed between its respective guide bearing member denoted generally by the numeral 61 and a collar member 68, as shown. The action of the various cams 268, 264 and 265 may be readily understood from Fig. 1. Suitable means are provided which rotate the cams at predetermined speeds for properly synchronizing the action of elements and 65 with plunger 68. Said means may comprise a motor '18 which, through suitable gearing, auxiliary shafts and the like, is adapted to drive various cam shafts 360, 364 and 365, in a manner well known to the art.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is not directed to, nor is it concerned with the particular mechanical and/or structura1 details of the container-forming device 20, which as illustrated are exemplary in nature rather than restrictive.

However, the present invention is directed to and is definitely concerned with the addition of means to the bottom face of the forming plunger 68 which will initially crease bottom 32 outwardly about median 35 for drawing the bottom edges 33 and 34 of the side walls 29 and 38 together whereby the lateraldistance between them, denoted by the letter A-, is substantially equal to the overall width of the end face l8 of plunger 68, Fig. 5. It should be observed that the overall width of the end faces l8 of plunger 68 is equal to the lateral distance A between opposed side walls 29 and 38 of a fully extended container, Fig. 14.

Such means may comprise a transverse rib element ll carried by and suitably secured to the bottom face 12 of plunger 68. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a pair of spaced,

outwardly projecting guide pins 13 extend from rib II, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Pin I3 are adapted to enter and project through holes I88 provided in the actuator panels 58 of the blank of Fig. 4 as plunger 68 is moved downwardly on its container-forming stroke. By reason of pins 18 thus eng m holes I", rib

. II is accurately aligned-with the bottom median fold-line 85 of blank 22. The blank is likewise keyed relative toplunger 88 so as to eflfectively preclude any shifting of the blank relative to said plunger during the remainder of the contamer-forming operation.

As plunger 88 and blank 22 are moved downwardly relative to wall folding elements 8| and 82. the side then the inner and outer end wall elements of the blank are folded, in proper sequence along their respective fold lines 83, 34,

88 and 42, about the side and end faces of plunger 80. The side wall engaging female die element 84 and the end wall engaging female die element 85, are then actuated toward plunger 60 for applying heavy pressure to thevarious walls of the newly formed container and for forcing them against corresponding faces of said plunger.

10 makes coplanar contact with conveyor belt 15,

whereas side wall 29 is disposed uppermost with its opposed side edges disposed under horizontal guldeways 8i and 82, with which they makesliding engagement. lt'should likewise be noted that the container is moved through the channelway with its bottom 82 foremost and with the bottom median 38 in parallelism with the conveyor belt.

It should be noted that the linear distance between the under face 24 of guidewalls 8| and 82 and conveyor belt 15 intermediate points 2-2, is

In the event that an adhesive is used to join overlapping attachment panels 44 and III of the overlapping inner and outer end wall elements 28 and 30, the pressure applied by the female die element 85 is sufllcient to permanently join said walls. It 'should'be understood that suitable means, not illustratedffor applying adhesive to the various attachment panels of blank 22 may be associated 20.

Appropriate means, such; as a stop 14 is prefwith the container forming device erably associated with one or more of the female die elements 84 and 88, for engaging the upper edge II of the walls of a newly formed container as plunger 68 is withdrawn from the female die on its upward stroke. In this manner, each newly formed container is eifectively stripped from the.

forming plunger. As the female die elements are moved apart, to reassume the relative positions indicated in Fig. l, the newly formed container is dropped, bottom first, into chute Hi.

The physical characteristics of the newly formed container are disclosed in Figs. '1 and 6, wherein it will be observed that the side walls 29. and 30 are substantially parallel, but wherein the end walls 3i have a decided outward bow caused by the inherent resistance of the inner and outer end wall elements 36 and .31 to be bent or flexed from or out of the mean plane of their respective side walls 29 and 38. By reason of this outsuch as to maintain or possibly emphasize the out-bowed condition of the end walls of the containers as they come from the container forming device 20.

25 As the container is moved between points 2 and 80 end walls inwardly about 2', it is caused to pass first between means for snapping or flexing the outer edge 48 of the actuatorpaneis it into the interior of the container housing, and then between means which fold the their respective median fold lines 88.

The first mentioned means may comprise a pair of'fingers 88, each of which include a head 84 and an elongated body portion 85 pivotally mounted relative'to an upstanding guidewall by means of a pin as, or. the like. A spring a1, or other suitable resilient means, secured to the rear end 88 of each finger, yieldingly maintains head 8 in the path of an advancing container end of the container, and then snapped past dead center into the interior of the rectangular housing, as disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9. 7

By reason of the outwardly bowed condition of the end walls 8i, the outer or base edge 48 of the bowed condition of the end walls the end edge or base it of each actuator panel 50 is located inwardly of the bottom edge 8 of the end walls, as shown.

The container is adapted to be discharged from chute l8 onto-conveyor I15, which maycomprise an endless belt 75 carried by spaced pulleys l8 and I1, one or both of which may be given a to tary motion by suitable power means, not illustrated. The outer face of belt It may be provided with a plurality of spaced transverse strips 18 which are adapted to engage the upper edge Ill of the side wall of a container.

Each ccntainer, upon being deposited upon conveyor H5 is moved to the left, Fig. 1, into the elongated channelway 23. With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that channelway 28 comprises upstanding guldewalls 19 and 80, which actuator elements 50 is effectively precluded from contacting or otherwise engaging the bottom edges I48 of the end walls 3i as the base portions of the actuator panels are snapped past dead center into the container. It shouldbe observed that only those portions of bottom 32. which constitute the actuatorpanels bl) are moved or affected during this operation. The other portions of said bottom remain. outwardly divergent andin the same plane as when the container was discharged from chutelit.

With reference to Fig. 8, it will be obser ved that heads 84 of fingers 88 are adapted to engage end walls II which swing said heads outwardly of their respective guide walls against the counter -i'oree of spring 81 as the container is moved by. Continued movement of the container to the left causes it to pass between the end wall folding means, which may comprise a pair of opposed blade-like elements 80. Elements 90 are preferably fixed, one each, to an upstanding guide wall so as to extend or project into the path of the end walls of a container in axial alignment with their respective median fold lines 39. If desired, the wall-engaging-edge 8| of said elements may taper outwardly from end 92 to end 83 so as to progressively force the end wallsinwardly, about their respective fold medians, as the container is moved past. As disclosed in Figs. 10, 11 and 13, as the end walls are thus folded inwardly, the side walls 29 and 30 are drawn together and the wing panels 43 of the inner-end-wall elements 36 are swung inwardly from the plane of the end walls into the plane of the side walls. After having been thus initially folded inwardly, the end walls are gradually forced together as the container is moved under the downwardly inclined portion of the channelway 23 between points 2.

the container, and means for drawing the side walls together upon said pleated end walls and bottom.

3. In combination with the bottom face of th forming plunger of a device for fabricatingextended containers having snap action bottoms from prefabricated blanks of sheet material, of

means for initially creasing and projectingthe bottom wall of the blank outwardly beyond the bottom edge of the side and end walls .of the 4. In a device of the class described, the comand 3. During this operation, the side walls are drawn together upon the wing panels 43.

The collapsed container may then be caused to pass between a pair of pressure rollers such as 95 and 96, which tightly compact the various 'portions of the container as shown in Fig. 12. The container thus collapsed, may be discharged onto conveyor 91 for purposes of inspection and packaging for shipment to the ultimate user.

It should be understood that suitable structure is provided for effecting support of the container forming device 20, chute I9 and guide walls 19 and 80 relative to conveyor belt 15.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the forming machine 20 fabricates blank 22 into the extended container of Fig. 7, which is characterized by a pair of opposed side walls, a pair of opposed fully extended, uncreased end walls and an outwardly extending V-shaped bottom. Such a container is conditioned by the device of Fig. 21, whereby the opposite ends of the bottom are folded interiorly of the container and whereby the end walls are then creased inwardly of the container in such a manner as to positively engage the end or free edge of the inturned bottoms, as disclosed in Fig. 13. As the side walls are then drawn together the bottom and end wall folds are accentuated to form, in effect, a container having a pleated bottom and pleated end walls. 1

It should be observed that the resultant collapsed container is adapted to be fully extended eating prefabricated blanks of sheet material into extended containers having opposed side' and end walls permanently joined to provide a rectangular housing open at its upper end and having an outwardly convergent V-shaped bottom interconnecting the bottom edges of the by forcing the outfolded bottom median 35 past dead center into the interior of the container with a toggle action.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination which comprises means for fabricating extended containers of the type which include a rectangular body portion open at one end and having an outwardly convergent V-shaped bottom interconnecting the bottom edges of the side,

walls from prefabricated blanks of sheet 'material, means for pleating the bottom and end walls of the extended containers; means for collapsing the pleated containers for delivery to the utimate user, and means for transferring the containers from the first means to and then through the other means.

2. In a device of the. class described, the combination which comprises a machine for fabricating prefabricated blanks of sheet material into containers having opposed ,side and end walls permanently joined to form a rectangular housing open at one end and having at its other end a snap action bottom which is attached to and converges outwardly from the bottom edges of the side walls, a second machine, means for transferring the extended containers from the first to the second machine, said second machine including means for pleating the outer ends of the bottom, means for pleating the end walls of opposed side walls, and a second machine for folding the end walls and bottomand drawing the side walls of said container together to form a collapsed container wherein said bottom is adapted to be extended inwardly of the housing with a snap action for maintaining the container in a distended condition, said machine comprising a conveyor upon which the extended containers from the first machine are deposited,

bottom foremost, and given a linear motion, guidewalls disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor, means for engaging the outer ends of the container bottom for shifting said ends interiorly of the housing, thereby initially folding said bottom, means for engaging the end walls for folding them inwardly of the housing, and means for drawing the-side walls together.

5. A device for fabricating from a prefabricated blank, an extended cardboard container of the type which includes a rectangular body portion open at one end and having an outwardly convergent V-shaped bottom interconnecting the bottom edges of the side walls, said device having in combination a reclprocable forming plunger including opposed side and end faces and a bottom face, side and end wall folding elements which fold the side and end walls of the blank about said plunger, and a female die engageable by said plunger for creasing and permanently joining overlapping portions of the blank for completing the container, of means disposed on the bottom face of said plunger which engage and initially project the container bottom for-' wardly of the bottom edges of the side and end walls for drawing the sidewalls together and overlapping the end walls by an amount sufficient to permanently space the bottom edges of the side walls by a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom for establishing a dead center between the bottom edges of the spaced side walls past which said bottom is adapted to be moved to the interior of the housing with a snap action.

tions of the blank for completing the container,

of meansv disposed on the bottom face of said plunger which engage and initiallyproject the container bottom forwardly of'the bottom edges of the side and end walls for drawing the sidewalls together and overlapping the end walls by an amount sufficient to permanently space the bottom edges of the side walls by a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom for establishing a dead center between the bottom edges of the spaced side walls past which said bottom is adapted to be moved to the interior of the housing with a snap action, they bottom :face ofsaid plunger'including means which posi- ,vergent V-shaped bottom, interconnecting the bottom edges of the side walls, said device having in combination a reciprocable forming plunger including opposed side and end faces and a bottom face, side and end wall'folding elements which fold the side and end walls of the blank about said plunger, and a female ,die engageable by said plunger for creasing and permanently joining overlapping portions of the blank for completing the container, of means disposed on the bottom face of said plunger which engage and initially project the container bottom forwardly of-the bottom edges of the side and end walls for drawing the side walls together and overlapping the end walls by an amount suiiicient to permanently space the bottom edges of the side walls by a dimension less than the.

overall width of said bottom for establishing a dead center. between the bottom edges of the spaced side walls past which said bottom is adapted to be moved to the interior of the housing with a snap action, said female die including means for stripping a completed container from the plunger upon the completion of its container-forminK-stroke.

8. A device for fabricating extended containers of the type which include opposed side and end walls and an outwardly projecting V- shaped bottom interconnecting the bottom edges of the opposed side walls and wherein the bottom is adapted to be extended inwardly oi the container with a snap action, said device including a plunger operable upon a blank to provide side, bottom and end walls, said plunger including means on its bottom face for initially creasing and extending the container bottom whereby said bottom converges outwardly beyond the bottom edges of the side and end walls.

9. A device for preparing a collapsible con-' tainer for shipment and delivery to the ultimate user, which container comprises a substantially rectangular shaped housing including a pair of opposed side walls, a pair of opposed end walls and a bottom which is secured to and converges outwardly to an apex along a transverse median from the bottom edges of the side walls, said combination a conveyor upon which thebo tainers are deposited on their sides,- said conveyor imparting linear movement to the con- ,tainers with their bottom foremost as they are consecutively moved relative to means which engage the base of said triangular panels for shifting said base rearwardly past dead center for disposing the bases interlorLv of the housing,

means which crease the side walls inwardly of the houslng, and means for drawing the side wall together upon the inwardly folded actuator panel bases and end walls.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination which comprises a machine for fabrlcating an extended container from a prefabricated blank sheet of material, said container comprising a substantially rectangular housing including.

a-pair of spaced, parallel sidewalls, a pair of opposed end walls and a bottom which is secured to andconverges outwardly to a common apex along a median fold line from the bottom edges of the side walls which are spaced apart by a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom for establishing a dead center past which said bottom is adapted to be moved with a snap action, said bottom including opposed and edges each of' which comprises the base of a triangular actuator panel, the sides of which comprise a pair of inwardly convergent score lines which intersect on said bottom apex, a second machine into which the extended containers from said first machine are fed, for being collapsed for delivery to the ultimate user, said second machine comprising a channelway, a conveyor for transferring extended containers disposed upon their sides andwith their bottoms foremost through said channelway, means carried by-said channelway which engage the bottom of a container for all flexing the base of each actuator panel past dead center into the interior of the container housing, other means carried by said channelway which engage the end walls of the container for simultaneously creasing and folding each end wall inwardly of the housing, and means-for drawing the side walls together upon the inwardly folded end walls for providing a fully collapsed container wherein the bottom is adapted to. be

. ing a longitudinal median fold line. and a bot-' snapped past deadcenter inwardly of the hous ingufor distendingthe collapsed side and end wa s. a

11. A device for preparing an extended container for shipment and delivery to the ultimate user, which extended container comprises a substantially rectangular shaped housing including opposed spaced parallel side walls, a pair of opposed, spaced out-bowed end walls, each includtom which converges outwardly from the bottom edges of the side walls to an apex along a transverse bottom median iold line, said end walls fixing the distance between the bottom edges of side walls being spaced apart by a dimension said bottom including opposed end edges each of which comprise the base of a triangular end-wallactuator-panel, the sides of which comprise in- -wardly convergent score lines which intersect On the opposed side walls at a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom measured at right angles to said median fold line'whereby to establish a dead center point past which the bottom is adapted to be moved with a snap action, said bottom including opposed end edges each of which comprises the base of a. triangular enclwail-actuator-panel thesides of which comprise inwardly convergent score lines which intersect on the bottom median, said device comprising in combination a conveyor upon which the extended containers are deposited upon their sides with their bottoms foremost and with the bottom median fold line in parallelism with the conveyor, said conveyor adapted to impart linear movement to the containers deposited thereon, guiding means arranged to maintain the containers on said conveyor, means which engage the upper side walls of the containers for maintaining the out-bowed condition of the end walls. means which engage the base of the actuator panels as each container is moved relative thereto for flexing said bases rearward without disturbing those portions of the bottom disposed intermediate said actuator panels, means which engage and crease the end walls inwardly of the housing along their respective median fold lines whereby the bottom portions of said end walls are folded inwardly over the bases of their respective end-wall-actuator-panels, and means for drawing the side walls together upon the inwardly folded end walls and actuator panel bases and for drawing together those portions of the bottom which are disposed intermediate the said actuator panels and located between the bottom edges of the'side walls and the bottom median whereby to provide a fiat, fully collapsed container.

12. The method of preparing a collapsible container for shipment and delivery to the ultimate user which container has a bottom element having a transverse median fold line and opposed end edges each of which comprise the base of a triangular end-wall-actuator-panel the sides of which comprise inwardly converging score lines meeting on said bottom median, and a rectan gular housing including opposed side and end walls, said end walls having median fold lines extending longitudinally thereof, said bottom adapted to be moved past the bottom edges of the housing with a snap action, which method consists in applying force to the opposed end edges of the bottom for shifting the base portions of the actuator panels into the interior of the housing, then applying a force to the end walls for creasing them. inwardly of the housing about their respective fold lines, and then applying a force to the side walls for drawing them 'together upon the infolded end walls.

13. The method of forming and collapsing a container having a rectangular body portion and a snap action bottom, from a one piece blank of sheet material which blank includes a bottom having a median fold line disposed transversely thereof, a pair of opposed side walls attached to opposite side edges of said bottom, a pair of inner end wall elements attached to opposite side edges of one of said side walls, and a pair of outer end wall elements attached to the opposite side edges of the other of said walls, the overall width of said bottom exceeding the overall width ofsaid end wall elements, said bottom including op osed end edges each of which comprise the base of a triangular shaped end-wallactuator-panel, the sides of which comprise a pair of score lines which converge inwardly from op osite ends of a base to form an apex on said bottom median. which -method comprises the steps of initially folding the bottom outwardly along its transverse median for drawing its opposed side edges toward one another. then folding the side, inner and outer end wall elements to form a rectangular housing, then permanently securing together overlapping inner and outer end wall elements for establishing a dead center point between opposed bottom edges of the side walls past which said bottom is adapted to be moved with a snap action, then flexing the base or said actuator panels past dead center for disposing them interiorly of the housing, then simultaneously folding each end wall inwardly of the housing for drawing the side walls together over the ini'olded end walls and for simultaneously folding together those portions of the bottom intermediate the actuator panels.

14. The method of fabricating an extended container having a snap action bottom from a single piece of sheet material, which consists in initially folding the bottom .to project outwardly beyond the bottom edges of the side walls to which it is connected, then permanently joining the overlapping end walls for fixing the maximum lateral distance between the bottom edges of the side walls at a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom.

15. Apparatus Iormanufacturing a cardboard container of the type which includes pleated ends and a pleated bottom and wherein the bottom is adapted to be extended inwardly of the container with a snap action for maintaining a distended condiuion of the container, said apparatus including a reciprocable plunger operable upon a blank to form side, bottom and end walls with the bottom projecting outwardly beyond the end walls, means for depositing the container so assembled upon a conveyor, said conveyor imparting a linear movement to the container with the bottom foremost, as it is moved in sequence relative to opposed bottomend-edge engaging elements which pleat the opposite ends of said bottom, opposed end-wallengaging elements which pleat the end walls inwardly, and side-wail engaging means which draw the opposed side walls together upon the pleated ends and bottom.

16. A device for preparing an extended container for shipment and delivery to the ultimate user, which extended container comprises a substantially rectangular shaped housing including opposed spaced parallel side walls, a pair of opposed, spaced out-bowed end walls, each including a longitudinal median fold line, and a bottom which converges outwardly from the bottom edges of the side walls to an apex along a transverse bottom median fold line, said end walls fixing the distance between the bottom end edges each edges of the opposed side walls at a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom measured at right angles .to said median fold line whereby to establish a dead center point past which the bottom is adapted to be moved with a snap action, said bottom including opposed of which comprises the base of a triangular end-wall actuator-panel the sides of which comprise inwandly convergent score lines which intersect on the bottommedian, said device comprising in combination a conveyor upon which the extended containers are deposited upon their sides with their bottoms foremost and with the bottom median fold line in parallelism with the conveyor, said conveyor adapted to impart linear movement to the containers deposited thereon, guiding means arranged to maintain the containers on said conveyor, means which simultaneously engage the base of the actuator panels as a container is moved relative thereto for flexing said base rearwandly into the container without disturbing those portions of the bottom disposed intermediate said actuator panels, means for providing an out-bowed condition to the end walls of the container as it is presented to said last mentioned means, means which engage and crease inwardly the end walls of the housing along their respective median fold lines whereby the bottom portions of said end walls are folded inwardly-to overlappingly engage the bases of their respective end-wall-actuator-panels and means for drawing the side walls together upon the inwardly folded actuator panel base and end walls.

17-. The method of preparing a collapsible container for shipment and delivery to the ultimate user which container has a bottom element having a; transverse median told line and opposed end edges each of which comprise the base of a triangular end-wall-actuator-panel the sides of which comprise inwardly converging score lines meeting on saidbottom median,-and a rectangular housing.includlng opposed side -and end walls, said end walls having median iold tions of the actuator panels into the interior of r the housing, then applying a force to the end walls for creasing them inwardly of the housing about theirrespective fold lines to overlappingly engage the base portions oi an adjacent actua tor panel, and then applying a force to the side walls for drawing them together upon the ini'olded end walls.

18. A device for preparing a collapsible container for shipment and delivery to the ultimate user, which container comprises a substantially rectangular shaped housing including a pair of opposed side walls, a pair 01' opposed inner and outer end walls and a bottom which is secured to and converges outwardly to an apex along a transverse median from the bottom edges of the side walls, said side walls being spaced apart by a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom for establishing a dead center past which said bottom. is adapted to be moved with a snap action, said bottom including opposed end edges each of which comprise the base of a triangular end-wall-actuator-panel, the sides of which comprise inwardly convergent score lines which intersect on the bottom median, said device comprising in combination a conveyor upon which the containers are deposited on their sides, said conveyor imparting linear movement to the containers with their bottomsforemost as they are consecutively moved relative to means which engage the base of said triangular panels for shifting said base rearwardly past dead center for disposing the bases interiorly of the housing, said means comprising a pair of laterally spaced fingers mounted to yleldingly engage the base of each of said triangular panels, means for creasing the side walls inwardly of the housing, said means comprising a pair of laterally spaced blades fixedly mounted to progressively crease the side walls inwardly as the container is moved past said blades, and means for drawing the side walls together upon the inwardly folded actuator panel bases and end walls.

19. The method of forming and collapsing a container having a rectangular body portion and a snap action bottom, from a one piece blank of sheet material which blank includes a bottom having a median told line disposed transversely thereof, a pair of opposed side walls attached to opposite side edges of said bottom, a pair of inner end wall elements attached to opposite side edges of one of said side walls each of which include an attachmentpanel and a wing panel, and a pair of outer wall elements attached to the opposite Side edges of the other of said walls each of which include a longitudinal median fold line which divides said outer end wall elements into an attachment panel and an-intermediate panel, the overall width of said bottom exceeding the overall width of said end wall elements, said bottom including opposed end edges each of which comprise the base oi a triangular shaped end-wallactuator-panel, the sides of which comprise a pair oi score lines which converge inwardly from opposite ends of a base to form an apex on said bottom median, which method comprises the steps of initially folding the bottom outwardly along its transverse median fold line, then folding, in sequence the side walls, the inner endwall-elements and the outer end-wall-elements to form a rectangular housing, then permanently securing together corresponding attachment pan els of the inner and outer end-wall-elements for establishing a deadcenter point between the bottom edges of the'opposed side walls past which said bottom can be moved only with a snap action,

then flexing the base of each actuator panel past dead center for locating each" of said bases interiorly of the housing, then simultaneously folding each end-wall inwardly of the housing about its median fold line for drawing the side walls laterally together whereby those portions of said bottom initially folded outwardly and disposed intermediate said actuator panels are likewise folded together outwardly of said housing.

20. The method of forming and collapsing a container having a rectangular body portion and a snap action bottom, from a one piece blank of sheet material which blank includes a bottom having a median fold line disposed transversely thereof, a pair of opposed side walls attached to opposite side edges of said bottom, a pair of inner end wall elements attached to opposite side edges of one of said side walls each of which include an attachment panel and a wing panel, and a pairof outer end wall elements attached to the opposite side edges of the other of said walls each of which include a longitudinal median fold line which divides said outer end wall elements into an attachment panel and an intermediate panel, the overall width of said bottom exceeding the overall width of said end wall elements, said bottom including opposed end edges each of which comprises the base of a triangular shaped end-wall-actuator-panel, the sides of which comprise a pair of score lines which converge lnwardly from opposite ends of a base to form an apex on said bottom median, which method comprises the steps of folding the bottom along its transverse median for drawing its opposed side edges together, then folding in sequence the side, then the inner-end-wall elements and lastly the outer-end-wall-elements relative to one another to form a rectangular housing, then permanently joining corresponding attachrnent panels of the inner and outer end-wallelements for establishing a dead center point between the opposed side edges of said bottom past which said bottom is adapted to be moved with a snap action, then flexing the base portion 01' each actuator panel toward and past dead center into the interior of the housing, then simultaneously folding the median portion of each end wall inwardly of the housing for swinging the wing panel of each end wall into the plane of the side walls as saidside walls are drawn together incident to the inward folding of said end walls, then applying a compressive force to opposed faces of 'the said walls for tightly compacting the various walls of the collapsed container.

21. Apparatus for manufacturing a cardboard container of the type which includes pleated ends and a pleated bottom and wherein the bottom is adapted to be extended inwardly of the container with a snap action for maintaining a distended condition of the container, said apparatus including a reclprocable plunger operable upon a blank to form side, bottom and end walls with the bottom projecting outwardly beyond the end walls, means for depositing the container so assembled upon a conveyor, said conveyor imparting a linear movement to the container with the bottom foremost, as it is moved in sequence relative to opposed bottom-end-edge and end wall engaging elements which successively pleat the opposite ends of said bottom and then pleat the end walls inwardly and side-wall engaging means which draw the opposed side walls together upon the pleated ends and bottom.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination which comprises a machine for fabricating an extended container from a prefabricated blank of sheet material, said container comprising a substantially rectangular shaped housing including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel side walls, a pair of opposed inner and outer end walls and a bottom which is secured to and converges outwardly to an apex along a transverse median from the bottom edges of the side walls which are spaced apart by a dimension less than the overall width of said bottom for establishing a dead center past which said bottom is adapted to be moved with a snap action, said bottom including opposed end edges each of which comprise the base of a triangular end-wall actuatorpanel, the sides of which comprises a pair of inwardly convergent score lines which intersect on said transverse median, said inner end walls including a wing panel adapted to extend laterally between the spaced end walls for reinforcing and augmenting the ability of the end walls to support a load applied to the side walls of an extended container, a second machine into which the extended containers from said first machine are fed, for being collapsed for delivery to the ultimate user, said second machine comprising a channelway, a conveyor for transferring extended containers disposed upon their sides and with their bottoms foremost through said channelway, means carried by said channelway which engage the bottom of a container for flexing the base of each actuator panel past dead center into the interior of the container housing, other means carried by said channelway'which engage the end walls of the container ior'slmultaneously creasing and folding each end wall inwardly of the housing and for swinging the wing panels of the inner end walls from a plane disposed at substantially right angles of the side walls into the plane of the side walls, and means for drawing the side walls together upon the inwardly folded actuator panel bases, wing panels and the end walls for providing a fully collapsed container wherein the bottom is adapted to be snapped past dead center inwardly of the hous- I ing for distending the collapsed side and end walls and for disposing the wing panels of the inner end walls laterally between the spaced side walls.

GEORGE J SHEARER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,2L+9,859. July 22, 19!;1.

GEORGE J. SBEARER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed -specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 7, ond column, line 11., claim 19, before "wall" insert --end--; page 8, ond column, line 5, claim 22, forthe word "comprises" read --comprise--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent of- Signed and sealed this 25rd day of September, A. D. 1914.1.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

